Marcus Caelius Rufus

Marcus Caelius Rufus (c. 88 BC, † 48 BC at Thurii ) was a politician in the late Roman Republic.

Caelius, who came from a family of the equestrian order, which was located in Picenum is mainly known for his association with Marcus Tullius Cicero, who was his teacher in rhetoric. He was, like Publius Clodius Pulcher, whose sister Clodia ( with which he temporarily had a relationship ) and the poet Catullus, to the " jeunesse dorée " of the late Republic, a generation that is - the of - at least in the eyes of its critics old Roman virtues turned and preferred a dissolute life. 56 BC he was accused by Lucius Sempronius Atratinus for alleged involvement in an assassination attempt; from the resulting speech in defense of Cicero (per Caelio ) we learn - albeit distorted polemic - about the life in these circles.

In the following years Caelius was also politically active ( tribune in 52 BC, aedile 50 BC ) His correspondence with Cicero from this period has survived. After the outbreak of the civil war he supported Gaius Julius Caesar in 48 BC and was praetor. He introduced a not in the interests of the absent Caesar laws application for tenancy and debt relief, the decision was forcibly prevented. Now he allied himself with Titus Annius Milo and instigated a revolt, but was killed at Thurii in southern Italy. Even Milo was killed.